Machines for working sheet metal



W. COQKSON MACHINES FOR WORKING SHEET METAL March 23, 1965 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 26, 1961 March 23, 1965 w. COOKSON 3,174,322

MACHINES FOR WORKING SHEET METAL Filed April 26. 1961 e Sheets-Sheet 2 March 23, 1965 w. cooKsoN 3,174,322

MACHINES FOR WORKING SHEET METAL Filed April 26. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 23, 1965 I w. COOKSON 3, 7

MACHINES FOR WORKING SHEET METAL Filed April 26. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 March 23, 1965 w. COOKSON 3,

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Filed A ril 26. 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 March 23, 1965 w. COOKSON 3,174,322

MACHINES FOR WORKING SHEET METAL Filed April 26, 1961 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 United States Patent s 11 Claims. c1. 72-424 The invention relates to sheet metal working machines and is more particularly concerned with such machines for working ribbed metal sheets. Examples of such ribbed metal sheet are roofing and siding sheets.

The invention provides a sheet metal working machine having co-operating mould or press tools to receive an end portion of a ribbed metal sheet and adapted to deform and shape that end of the sheet to close the ends of the ribs and leave a flat margin at the ends of the ribs.

Preferably the mould or press tools comprise pairs of co-operating male and female tool elements, the male tool elements being mounted on the bed plate of the machine and the female tool elements being mounted for movement towards and away from the male tool elements on a slid-able ram plate carried by a ram unit mounted on the machine.

Preferably each male tool element has a peripheral surface conforming to the underside of a rib of the sheet and leading to an inclined end surface for determining the shape at the underside of the closed end of the rib and each female tool element has an inclined undersurface aligned and for cooperating with the inclined end surface of the male tool element and leading to a flat horizontal end portion.

Preferably the machine also comprises means for shaping the flat margin of the sheet. These means may comprise means for bending the flat margin to form a laterally extending flange at the end of the sheet or they may comprise means for deforming the fiat margin to form a hooked flange extending under the sheet. In this latter case the margin deforming means may comprise a support piece around which the flat margin may be bent to form the hooked flange, a first wiper member for bending said margin downwardly and a second wiper member for bending the downturned margin inwardly under the support piece.

The margin deforming means may also comprise a re tractable backing member having an operative and an inoperative position such that when the backing member is in its operative position, it forms a continuation of the end of the support piece and provides a backing surface against which the margin can be pressed by the first wiper member and such that when the backing member is in its inoperative position it is spaced away from the support piece and does not interfere with the operation of the second wiper member.

Preferably the machine also comprises means for as sisting the formation of inward folds in the flanks of the rib as the rib is acted upon by the mould or press tools. These means may conveniently comprise two arms spaced apart a distance less than the base width of the rib, which arms are moved downwardly over the rib to engage the flanks of the rib during pressing movement of the mould or press tool.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 shows in perspective view a preferred form of sheet metal working machine embodying the inven tion,

FIGURE 2 shows a side elevational View of the machine shown in FIGURE 1,

3,174,322 Patented Mar. 23, 1965 FIGURE 3 shows in part perspective view a roofing sheet before pressing,

FIGURE 4 shows in part perspective view the roofing sheet after pressing in the machine,

FIGURE 5 (a), (b) and (c) shows in cross section view the roofing sheet in different stages of pressing,

FIGURE 6 shows in part perspective sectional view a pair of press tools forming part of the machine,

FIGURE 7 (a) and (b) shows in cross'section view the pair of tools shown in FIGURE 6,

FIGURE 8 shows in cross section view part of the machine and tool assembly after the sheet margin has been bent to form a flange, I

FIGURE 9 shows in cross section view part of the machine and tool assembly, after the flange shown in FIG. 8 has been again bent to form a hooked flange,

FIGURE 10 shows in part perspective view a roofing sheet having flattened V-shaped ribs,

FIGURE 11 shows in part perspective view the roofing sheet shown in FIGURE 10 after pressing in the machine with appropriate tools,

FIGURE 12 shows in part perspective view a pair of press tools for operation on the ribbed sheet shown in FIG. 10,

FIGURE 13 shows in part perspective view a pleat controlling device in front of a male tool for forming the ribbed sheet of FIG. 10 into the form shown in FIG. 11,

FIGURE 14 (a) and (b) shows in cross section view the pair of tools shown in FIGURE 12 and pleat controlling device,

FIGURE 15 shows in enlarged part perspective view the tools in the process of pressing a rib of the form shown in FIG. 10, and 1 FIGURE 16 shows in cross section view the relationship of the tools and the pleat controlling device with the rib shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 fully pressed.

FIGURE 17 shows a fractional perspective view of how 7 the bridge plate is supported.

In FIGURES 1 and 2 the machine in'the form of a hydraulic press 10 comprises a rigid steel upright structure 12 consisting of two opposed parallel frames 14 and 16 bolted together through suitable distance pieces 18 and welded to bottom support plates 20. A channel frame I 22 provides the base of the press to which support plates are Welded.

A horizontal table 24 is provided with a supporting frame 26 both being suitably joined to the base frame 22 and the upright structure 12. Between frames 14 and 16 is situated a ram plate 27 slidable between the frames and carried by the rams of two vertical hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30.

A fixed bed plate 32 is provided between frames 14 and 16 on the ends of which are situated guides 34 and 36 for the slidable ram plate 27. In side guides 38 and 40 (not shown in FIGURE 2) positioned on the frame 14, is situated a first wiper member being a slidable wiper plate 42 mounted for movement on another ram actuatedby a hydraulic cylinder 44. On table 24 are provided two side guides 46 and 48 (likewise not shown in FIGURE 2) in which is positioned a second wiper member in the form of a sliding ram 50 actuated by a hydraulic cylinder 52. Sliding cams 54 movable with ram 50 raise or -lower the slidable backing plate 56 under the front edge of bed plate 32. A guillotine knife 58 is provided on the front top edge of ram 50 and a corresponding bit 60 is provided on the top edge of plate 56. i V

Three identical male tools 62 are mounted on bed plate 32, and corresponding female tools 64 are mounted on ram plate 27 (see FIGURE 2). The male tools 62 and female tools 64 form pairs of mould tools which co-operate to receive the end portions of the ribs of the sheet, and deform and shape them to close the ends and to leave a flat portion. In the deforming process the ends 78 of rib 76 form inwardly shaped pleats which are flattened down between the tools. Male tools 62 and female tools 64 may be so mounted on bed plate 32 and ram plate 27 to be removable as units for interchanging with similar tools of different rib profile. The hydraulic cylinders 28, 30, 44 and 52 are connected by tubing 66 (only partly shown) to a valve control box 68 provided with operating levers 70. The hydraulic power unit is not shown.

In FIGURE 3, a roofing sheet 72 is shown which has two flat portions 74 and three .ribs 76. The ends 78 of the ribs 76 are closed (FIGURE 4) and a portion 80 at the edge of the sheet is formed into a hooked flange extending under the sheet. In FIGURE (a) the closed end 78 is shown with a flat outwardly extending portion 82 which is then first downwardly bent as shown in FIG- URE 5(b) and then inwardly bent as shown inFIGURE 5(0). These operations are carried out in the machine shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, as will be hereinafter explained.

In FIGURE 6 is shown one pair of tools 62, 64 with the closed end 78 of a rib 76 betwen them. In FIGURES 6 and 7, male tool 62 which has an internal fit in rib 76 is mounted on bed plate 32, having one end 84 shaped to the desired profile of the closed end 78. The corresponding female tool 64 is mounted for movement on sliding ram plate 27 through the intermediary of a top plate 86. Pressure pads 88 are provided withsuitable compression springs 90 and guides 92 in the known manner (FIG- URE 6) on each side of female tool 64. Bed plate 32 (FIGS. 6 and 7(b)) has a recess 94 along and under its front edge leaving a support piece 95.

In FIGURE 8, male tool '62 and female tool 64 are shown closed over rib 76 of sheet 72 with rarn plate 27 under pressure from hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30. In this position cams 54 hold backing plate 56 in its operative position in recess 94. Cams 54 are slidable in slots 96 and 96a in backing plate 56 and the structure 12 of the press respectively. Wiper plate 42 is actuated by hydraulic cylinder 44 to wipe or bend down flange 82 on the edge of sheet 72 downwardly around support piece 95. Wiper plate 42 is retracted by cylinder 44 immediately after the edge of sheet 72 is bent downwardly.

attached to the base of backing plate 56 and structure 12. The forward stroke of hydraulic cylinder 52 next forces the top edge. 100 of ram 50 into recess 94 so bending flange 82 of sheet 72 around support piece 95 as shown in FIGURE 5 (0).

Before bending flange 82, knife 58 and bit 60 trim oflf the surplus and ragged edge of the flange 82 (FIGURE 9) which results from the pressing operation, backing plate 56 being in its inoperative position suitably placed for this purpose and not interfering with the operation of the machine. Ram 50 is next retracted by hydraulic cylinder 52, cams 54 again raising backing plate 56 to firmly press and straighten flange 82 of sheet 52.

As a final step, the hydraulic cylinders 28 and 30 are actuated to lift ram plate 27 and tool 64. Sheet 72 with its closed and flanged end is then removed from the machine by actuating hydraulie cylinder 52 to move earns 54 sufliciently to allow backing plate 56 to be released from under flange 82 of sheet 72.

In FIGURE another kind of roofing sheet 104 is shown, with ribs 106 above the sheet. Rib 106 is of flattened V-shape having two slanting walls 108 and a top portion 110. In FIGURE 11 one end 112 of rib 106 is closed with a flat portion 114 having its free edge formed into a hooked flange 116 extending under the sheet. Sides 108 of rib 106 are inwardly folded under top portion in the closing process forming pleats 113 (their edges are denoted by the dotted lines 115). Instead of the hooked flange 116 a downwardly directed flange 118 may be formed on the edge of flat portion 114.

In FIGURE 12, press tools are shown which are re- 'quired for closing the ends 112 of the ribs of sheet 104. FIGURE 12 shows one pair of tools 124 and 128 with a closed end 112 of rib 106 between them, which may be one of a number of ribs in the sheet. Part of another rib 122 is also shown.

In FIGURES 12 and 14, male tool 124, which has an internal fit in rib 106, is mounted on bed plate 32 having one end 126 shaped to the desired profile of the closed end 112. The corresponding female tool 128 is mounted for movement on the sliding ram plate 27 through the intermediary of a top plate 130. Pressure pads 132 are provided with suitable compression springs 134' in the known manner. Bed plate 32 has a recess along and under its front edge,,leaving a support piece 138.

In FIGURE 13, male tool 124 positioned on bed plate 32 .has suitably positioned in front of it a pleat control ling device 140. Device is mounted on a bridge plate 142 conveniently secured to the horizontal table 24 of the machine by end support blocks 143. For ribs of flattened V-shape section the correct shape of the pleats must be controlled, otherwise the rib ends would spread and flatten outwardly making an unsatisfactory and unsightly job. The punpose of device 140 is to initially crease inwardly the sides of the ribs which determines the correct position and shape of the inwardly folded pleats. After creasing the sides of the ribs the device is moved out of the way of the press tools to allow these to function. The pleat controlling device is consequently a necessity for forming most rib profiles.

Device 140 consists of two bearing blocks 144 on which is pivoted on a pin 146 a swinging arm 148 for each top 110 of each rib 106. Secured under each swinging arm 148 is an end support piece 150 having two downwardly directed prongs 152.

Between bridge plate 142 and the underside of each arm 148 is provided a compression spring 154. Stops 156 are provided to hold arms 148 parallelto bridge plate 142.

In FIGURE 14 pleat controlling device 140 is shown positioned in front of male tool 124-with a rib 106 of sheet 104 located on the male tool. The edge 158 of rib 106 is located on the end support piece 150.

In FIGURE 15, pressure pads 132 are shown securing sheet 104 in the press. Female tool 128 is depicted partly shaping the end of rib 106, edge 158 being held parallel with female tool 128 as this descends. In the process arm 140 rotates downwardly compressing spring 154. At the same time prongs 152 inwardly press sides 108 of rib 106 to kink them as at 160. This process ensures that the edges of rib 106 start to make .uniformfolds to provide pleats 113 as shown in FIGURE 11.

In FIGURE 16, the male tool 124 and female tool 128 are tightly closed together so forming the final shape of the closed end 112 of rib 106 as in FIGURE 12. The edge 158 of. rib 106 in this position trips olf end support piece 150 allowing arm 148 to spring up and so return to its original position as shown in FIGURE 14.

Hooked flange 116 and bent back flange 116 are formed in the machine as previously explained.

What I claim is:

1. A sheet metal working machine having cooperating press tools to receive therebetween an end portion of a metal sheet having at least one rib and adapted to deform and shape that end of the sheet to close the end of the rib. and leave a flat margin at the end of the rib, the improvements which consist in that the machine has means for bending the flat margin to form a laterally extending flange at the end of the sheet, means for trimming the free edge of the margin, and means for deforming the lateral- 1y extending flange into a reversely bent flange with the free end thereof extending under the sheet.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein it has a support piece for the flat margin, a first wiper member for bending said margin downwardly and a second wiper member for bending the down-turned margin inwardly under the support piece and further wherein the means for trimming the free end of the flat margin comprises a guillotine knife carried by the second wiper member to engage and trim the flat margin before the second wiper member bends that margin.

3. A machine according to claim 1 wherein it has a support piece for the flat margin, a first wiper member for bending said margin downwardly and a second wiper member for bending the down-turned margin inwardly under the support piece and further wherein a retractable backing member is provided having two operative positions, in one of which it forms a reinforcement for the end of the support piece and provides a backing surface against which the margin can be pressed by the first wiper member and in its other position it is spaced away from the support piece and provides clearance for the operation of the second wiper member.

4. A machine according to claim 3 wherein the trimming means comprise a guillotine knife carried by the second wiper member to engage and trim the flat margin before the second wiper member bends that margin.

5. A machine according to claim 4 wherein the guillotine knife cooperates with a bit on the backing member when it is in its second mentioned position.

6. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the cooperating press tools are intended to receive therebetween a sheet having a rib the flanks of which taper outwardly from the crown to the base and further comprising means for assisting in forming an inward fold in the flanks of the rib as said rib is acted upon by the press tools.

7. A machine according to claim 6 wherein it has a support piece for the flat margin, a first wiper member for bending said margin downwardly and a second wiper member for bending the downturned margin inwardly under the support piece and further wherein the means for trimming the free end of the flat margin comprises a 6 guillotine knife carried by the second wiper member to engage and trim the flat margin before the second wiper member bends that margin.

8. A machine according to claim 6 wherein the means for assisting in forming an inward fold in the flanks of the rib comprises two arms spaced apart a distance less than the base width of the rib, which arms are movable downwardly over the rib to engage the flanks of the rib during pressing movement of the press tools.

9. A machine according to claim 8 and for use with a metal sheet having a rib of inverted flattened V crosssectional shape, wherein the two arms are connected to and below a third arm which is engageable by the crown of the rib during initial pressing movement of the press tools to cause downward movement of said two arms.

10. A sheet metal working machine having cooperating press tools to receive therebetween an end portion of a metal sheet having at least one rib, the flanks of which taper outwardly from the crown to the base and adapted to deform and shape that end of the sheet to close the end of the rib and leave a flat margin at the end of the rib, the improvement which consists in that the machine has two arms spaced apart a distance less than the base width of the rib, which arms are movable downwardly over the rib to engage the flanks thereof to assist in forming an inward fold in each of the flanks of the rib as the rib is acted upon by the press tools.

11. A machine according to claim 10 wherein the two arms are connected to and below a third arm which is engageable by the crown of the rib during initial pressing movement of the press tools to cause downward movement of said two arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,326,852 12/19 Dallmeyer et al l53--13 1,462,474 7/23 Atkinson 153-13 2,289,150 7/42 Tangerman 15348 2,975,818 3/61 Rippe 153-12 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Examiner. 

1. A SHEET METAL WORKING MACHINE HAVING COOPERATING PRESS TOOLS TO RECEIVE THEREBETWEEN AN END PORTION OF A METAL SHEET HAVING AT LEAST ONE RIB AND ADAPTED TO DEFORM AND SHAPE THAT END OF THE SHEET TO CLOSE THE END OF THE RIB AND LEAVE A FLAT MARGIN AT THE END OF THE RIB, THE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH CONSISTS IN THAT THE MACHINE HAS MEANS FOR BENDING THE FLAT MARGIN TO FORM A LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE AT THE END OF THE SHEET, MEANS FOR TRIMMING THE FREE EDGE OF THE MARGIN, AND MEANS FOR DEFORMING THE LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGES INTO A REVERSLY BENT FLANGE WITH THE FREE END THEREOF EXTENDING UNDER THE SHEET. 